Gov't eyes public land for green energy in 2010

Of the wind projects currently proposed for public land almost 1,400 Megawatts of new capacity, -enough to power more than 400,000 homes - are estimated to be ready for construction in the set time frame. More than 6,000 MW of new capacity from solar projects, mostly in California, Arizona and New Mexico are also expected to go by the same time.

"As managers of one-fifth of the nation's land and 1.7 billion acres of ocean it is time the Department of the Interior change how we do business and open our doors to wise, responsible renewable energy production on our public lands." Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar said during remarks in Chicago, Illinois,Tuesday.

Salazar said that Bureau of Land Management has a backlog of some 200 solar energy candidates and more than 25 wind project applications in western states. He said there are also 200 locations where aspirants would like to begin site testing for future wind projects.

The Department of the Interior is investing $41 million from stimulus package money to facilitate a "rapid and responsible move to large-scale production of clean energy in public lands.